Start your own event

This page is for enquiries about starting brand new parkrun events. Please select the country you're enquiring from/about, read the country specific details, and complete the form at the bottom of the page. If you've queries regarding existing events, please contact parkrun via our support website.

Australia

Our goal is for there to be a parkrun everywhere in Australia where someone would like one.

We’re not so interested in our events being large. Instead our vision is to have lots of small events across many small communities, each providing a free-to-attend opportunity to engage with physical activity in a supportive environment.

Already operating in hundreds of locations around the globe, we understand that parkrun is about so much more than a free, weekly, timed 5km run. It’s about friendships, families and bringing people together to help one another achieve sustainable and healthy changes to their lifestyle.

Setting up an event: things to think about

As we grow, the challenge of helping local governments, health services and owners of open spaces understand the benefits of parkrun is becoming easier. However in places it can still be a challenge.

The key to starting any parkrun is to find the right person to lead that event as a local volunteer, to champion its benefits to their community and to slowly but surely build a strong volunteer team to deliver the event going forwards. We will support that person, however it’s important to remember that each of our events must be driven by a core team of committed and passionate parkrun volunteers.

parkrun Australia is a not-for-profit Incorporated Association and is supported financially by our national sponsors. However, to survive financially we do look for local councils, other community organisations and small business to contribute towards the establishment and ongoing maintenance of an event in their area.

The time it takes to set up a parkrun event can vary significantly – it depends on the specific challenge of your location. Typically it takes around three to six months from start to finish. We never rush a team to get started and always wait for you to feel ready, properly trained and confident that you’re fully prepared.

Finally, you must be prepared for parkrun to change your life! Starting an event is the most amazing journey. Please don’t take our word for it, either – feel free to contact any of our event teams around Australia (their direct email is on their specific web page) and ask for their thoughts and insights around what it means to join the parkrun family.

Canada

Here in Canada we have a goal that there will be a parkrun in every village, town or city that wants one. We’re really passionate about this – we believe it’s everyone’s right to get up on a Saturday and run in a 5km timed event without paying for the pleasure.

The single most important thing we need now is for individuals to come forward and lead the charge to bring a parkrun to their neighborhood. If you think that could be you then definitely get in touch: we’ll work with you to provide all the know-how you need to make an event a possibility – from helping to establish a course to the creation of a team of volunteers.

Denmark

Here in Denmark we have a goal that there will be a parkrun in every village, town or city that wants one. We’re really passionate about this – we believe it’s everyone’s right to get up on a Saturday and run in a 5km timed event without paying for the pleasure.

The single most important thing we need now is for individuals to come forward and lead the charge to bring a parkrun to their neighborhood. If you think that could be you then definitely get in touch: we’ll work with you to provide all the know-how you need to make an event a possibility – from helping to establish a course to the creation of a team of volunteers.

Ireland

Here in Ireland we have a goal that there will be a parkrun in every village, town or city that wants one. We’re really passionate about this – we believe it’s everyone’s right to get up on a Saturday and run in a 5km timed event without paying for the pleasure.

We’re working hard to get councils and parks authorities to understand the nature of parkrun.

We want them to understand that parkrun delivers all the health and fitness benefits that they also prescribe, and that parkrun addresses a host of other concerns by which their organisations are measured.

The good news is that this process is becoming easier as parkrun catches on.

So, what do we need now? The single most important thing we need is for individuals to come forward and lead the charge to bring a parkrun to their neighborhood. We’ll then work with these folks to provide all the know-how to make an event possible – from how to establish a course to creating a team of volunteers.

New Zealand

We believe that everyone should be able to get up on a Saturday morning and run in a 5km timed event without having to pay for the pleasure.

That’s why our mission is to encourage all our cities, towns and smaller communities to embrace the parkrun ethos and join this global running community.

So, what do we need?

Well, the single most important thing we need is for committed and enthusiastic individuals to come forward and lead the charge to bring a parkrun to their neighborhood. We’ll then work with them to provide all the know-how they need to make an event possible. Starting with help to establish a course to the creation of their team of volunteers.

The good news is that, once Councils and Park Authorities understand the nature of parkrun and how parkrun delivers health and fitness benefits, they’re generally willing to help new events come to fruition.

Setting up a parkrun does have a cost and parkrun New Zealand is currently supported by our national sponsor. However, to survive financially we do look for local councils, other community organisations and small business to contribute towards the establishment and ongoing maintenance of an event in their area.

Finally, you must be prepared for parkrun to change your life, but only in a positive way – get in touch if that could be you!

Singapore

South Africa

Here in South Africa we have a goal that there will be a parkrun in every village, town or city that wants one. We’re really passionate about this – we believe it’s everyone’s right to get up on a Saturday and run in a 5km timed event without paying for the pleasure.

We’re working hard to get councils and parks authorities to understand the nature of parkrun.

We want them to understand that parkrun delivers all the health and fitness benefits that they also prescribe, and that parkrun addresses a host of other concerns by which their organisations are measured.

The good news is that this process is becoming easier as parkrun catches on.

So, what do we need? Well, the single most important thing we need is for individuals to come forward and lead the charge to bring a parkrun to their neighborhood. We’ll then work with these folks to provide all the know-how they need to make an event possible – from how to establish a course to creating a team of volunteers.

At the same time, setting up a parkrun event costs us about R90,000, which includes all the equipment costs and internal costs required to create the event. The basic needs of the event is then sustained on an ongoing basis through our sponsorship model.

Could you be that individual? Or are you an organisation that can support the setting-up of an event? Then get in touch!

United Kingdom

Our goal is for there to be a parkrun everywhere in the UK where someone would like one.

We’re not so interested in our events being large. Instead our vision is to have lots of small events across many small communities, each providing a free-to-attend opportunity to engage with physical activity in a supportive environment.

Already operating in over 500 locations, parkrun UK and junior parkrun UK is about so much more than a free, weekly, timed run. It’s about friendships, families and bringing people together to help one-another achieve sustainable and healthy lifestyle changes.

Runners of all abilities are welcome, and the focus is on recreational running and increasing participation. With that in mind, results are presented in time order, but there are no performance-related prizes or medals and the first person across the line is termed the ‘first finisher’ not the winner.

Setting up an event – things to think about

As we grow, the challenge of helping local governments, health services and owners of open spaces understand the benefits of parkrun is becoming easier. However in places it can still be a challenge.

The key to starting any parkrun is to find the right person to lead that event as a local volunteer, to champion its benefits to their community and to slowly but surely build a strong volunteer team to deliver the event going forwards. We will support that person and their team through help from parkrun staff and our well-established IT support system. However it’s important to remember that each of our events must be driven by a core team of committed and passionate parkrun volunteers.

Here in the UK we operate as an independent not-for-profit organisation supported by commercial and various other supporters. To survive financially we also look for local organisations to contribute towards the establishment of events in their area. We currently seek to achieve a £3,000 (including VAT) start-up fee when establishing an event. This is always a one-off cost and we commit to supporting every event indefinitely from then on.

The time it takes to set up a parkrun event can vary significantly – it depends on the specific challenges of your location. Typically it takes around three to six months from start to finish. We never rush a team to get started and always wait for you to feel ready, properly trained and confident that you’re fully prepared.

Finally, you must be prepared for parkrun to change your life! Starting an event is the most amazing journey. Please don’t take our word for it, either – feel free to contact any of our event teams around the UK (their direct email is on their specific web page) and ask for their thoughts and insights around what it means to join the parkrun family.

Thanks for your time in reading this. If you’re interested in setting up a parkrun near you then brilliant – please contact us via the form.

United States

Here in the US we have a goal that there will be a parkrun in every village, town or city that wants one. We’re really passionate about this – we believe it’s everyone’s right to get up on a Saturday and run in a 5km timed event without paying for the pleasure.

We are working hard to get councils and parks authorities to understand the nature of parkrun.

We want them to understand that parkrun delivers all the health and fitness benefits that they also prescribe, and that parkrun addresses a host of other concerns by which their organisations are measured.

The good news is that this process is becoming easier as parkrun catches on.

So, what do we need? Well, the single most important thing that we need is for individuals to come forward and lead the charge to bring a parkrun to their neighborhood. We’ll then work with these folks to provide all the know-how they need to make an event possible – from how to establish a course to creating a team of volunteers.

At the same time, setting up a parkrun event costs us about $6,000, which includes all the equipment costs and internal costs required to create the event. So we’re also looking to our councils, health boards and other commercial bodies to fund 50% of the start-up costs for each event – before the event is then sustained on an ongoing basis through our sponsorship model.

Could you be that individual? Or are you an organisation that can help set up an event? Then please get in touch!

None of the above

Sorry we can’t help. Yet.

At the moment we’re not accepting requests for parkrun events in any new countries. So if your country isn’t already listed here, sadly we can’t help at the moment.

The reason is that, while we at parkrun would like as many people to take part as possible, protecting the essence of our movement is really important to us.

To do this properly, we need to make sure the framework is right for an event to happen, and that the financial support is in place. That takes considerable time and effort, both in the prospective country and for ourselves to support that new country. We’re a very small team, and we simply don’t have the resources to set up lots of countries at once.

We realise this might disappoint, but we’d rather be honest and up front about the challenges we face in growing parkrun internationally. And please do remember it’s not necessarily a no – just a ‘not yet’!

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